Matthew 19
Jesus left Galilee and entered Judea, where he healed many and was approached by Pharisees who questioned him about divorce, citing Moses' law. Jesus replied that Moses allowed divorce due to the hardness of their hearts, but from the beginning, God intended for marriage to be a lifelong union between one man and one woman. He also taught that whoever divorces and remarries, except in cases of adultery, commits adultery. Jesus then blessed children, saying the kingdom of heaven belongs to those like them. A young man asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life, and Jesus told him to keep the commandments and sell his possessions to follow him, but the young man went away sad because he was wealthy. Jesus then told his disciples that it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven, but with God, all things are possible.
And it happened that, when Jesus had completed these words, he moved away from Galilee, and he arrived within the borders of Judea, across the JordanAnd great crowds followed him, and he healed them thereAnd the Pharisees approached him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to separate from his wife, no matter what the cause?And he said to them in response, "Have you not read that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female?" And he said"For this reason, a man shall separate from father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife, and these two shall become one fleshAnd so, now they are not two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.They said to him, "Then why did Moses command him to give a bill of divorce, and to separate?He said to them: "Although Moses permitted you to separate from your wives, due to the hardness of your heart, it was not that way from the beginningAnd I say to you, that whoever will have separated from his wife, except because of fornication, and who will have married another, commits adultery, and whoever will have married her who has been separated, commits adultery.His disciples said to him, "If such is the case for a man with a wife, then it is not expedient to marry.And he said to them: "Not everyone is able to grasp this word, but only those to whom it has been givenFor there are chaste persons who were born so from their mother’s womb, and there are chaste persons who have been made so by men, and there are chaste persons who have made themselves chaste for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever is able to grasp this, let him grasp it.Then they brought to him little children, so that he would place his hands upon them and pray. But the disciples rebuked themYet truly, Jesus said to them: "Allow the little children to come to me, and do not choose to prohibit them. For the kingdom of heaven is among such as these.And when he had imposed his hands upon them, he went away from thereAnd behold, someone approached and said to him, "Good Teacher, what good should I do, so that I may have eternal life?And he said to him: "Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said: "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimonyHonor your father and your mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.The young man said to him: "All these I have kept from my childhood. What is still lacking for me?Jesus said to him: "If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad, for he had many possessionsThen Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, I say to you, that the wealthy shall enter with difficulty into the kingdom of heavenAnd again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for the wealthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven.And upon hearing this, the disciples wondered greatly, saying: "Then who will be able to be saved?But Jesus, gazing at them, said to them: "With men, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.Then Peter responded by saying to him: "Behold, we have left behind all things, and we have followed you. So then, what will be for us?And Jesus said to them: "Amen I say to you, that at the resurrection, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, those of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of IsraelAnd anyone who has left behind home, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for the sake of my name, shall receive one hundred times more, and shall possess eternal lifeBut many of those who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
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